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"I have a tattoo that says, 'How can I laugh tomorrow, if I can't even smile today?,'" she says. "It's about being happy on the journey and right now, I am."

In between creating her own music, Carah continues to expand her discography as a songwriter. She co-wrote the multi-platinum Zedd hit "Stay The Night" [feat. Hayley Williams of Paramore], which earned her a 2015 BMI Pop Award.

The singer and songwriter earned that bit of wisdom over the course of her whirlwind career thus far. Her earliest musical memories include vocal lessons from one of The Chordettes -- of "Mr. Sandman" and "Lollipop" fame -- and even performing for Ronald Reagan as part of a touring choir. Joining Shiny Toy Guns right out of high school, the California native would go on to receive a 2008 Grammy Award nomination in the category of "Best Electronic/Dance Album" for 'We Are Pilots' and play over 1,000 shows as the band's frontwoman. With the group engaging a hiatus, she formally began pursuing her own path in 2013.

"I'm so proud of Shiny Toy Guns, but it got to a point where I had to do this for me," she admits. "I didn't want anybody else in control of my career. I started making the music I wanted to make. I aimed to do for music what music did for me. I want to leave a lasting imprint that I can be proud of."

So, she holed up in an Upstate New York Cabin for nearly eight months, writing initial ideas for what would become her solo debut. Taking those sonic skeletons back to Los Angeles, Carah spent the next two years fashioning and fine-tuning her individual style.

"My three key words were epic, cinematic, and timeless," she continues. "My whole goal was to take the ceiling off as far as what we were doing musically and lyrically. I like things big. In the studio, I kept pushing for big chords and drums. I want as many ears to hear my heart as possible."

Ultimately though, her solo music is exactly what she intended to do since day one.

"This is me unfiltered," she proudly confesses. "This is the most honest I've ever been. This is my story. This is who I am. You're either going to love me or not, but I'm happy it's out there."